Circuit-closer



J. D. CLAY.

CIRCUIT CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED APRLZI, 1911.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

PATENT orrl ce.

JOHN D. CLAY, OF PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK.

CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

Application filed April 27, 1917. Serial No. 164,828.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN D. CLAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Port Washington, county of Nassau, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Closers, of which the following'is a specification.

My invention relates to circuit closers or switches designed to control the flow of electricity through a circuit or circuits, andthe objects thereof are to provide switch mechanism in which the various elements directly concerned with the control of the current are locked in position to close the circuit or circuits by means of toggle mechanism acting to restrain the action of a spring which tends at all times to move the parts into a position to break or open the circuit controlled by the switch; to provide a switch in which the circuit closing elements cannot .be left in a partially closed condition; to

provide a switch in which the elements through which the current flows are so protected that the user of the switch can under no circumstances touch or come in contact with elements through which current is flowing; to provide a switch in which the various operative elements are located within a casing provided with a cover through which access may be had to the interior thereof, and in which locking mechanism is provided for locking the cover in its closed position when the circuit or circuits controlled by the switch are closed, which locking mechanism also prevents the circuit or circuits from being closed when the cover is in its open position; to provide a switch for the purpose stated which will .be simple in construction and effective for the purpose for which it is designed, and which may be readily and cheaply made by approved methods of manufacture; and to otherwise improve upon and enhance the efficiency of switch mechanism of the type or class to which my invention relates.

WVith the above enumerated and other ob jects of invention in view, my invention consists in the improved switch and elements thereof hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, and in such variations and modifications thereof as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification and wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention 18 illustrated Figure 1 is a view illustrating the principal elements of my improved switch mechanism in side elevation, the body of the easing, however, being shown in section upon a longitudinally extending plane indicated by the lines 1-1, Figs. 3 and 6, and the cover thereof upon a similar centrally located plane in said figures, the parts being shown in the positions taken when the circuitcontrolled by the switch is closed;

. Fig.2 is a similar view showing the parts in their open positions, and upon planes indicated by the lines 22 in Figs. 3 and 6;

Fig. 3 is a view showing a section taken upon a plane indicated by the line 3-3, Fig. 1, the parts being shown in position to close the circuit, as in Fig. 1; I

F1gs. 4; and 5 are views illustrating certain mechanism provided for the purpose of lockmg the cover of the casing when the elements of the switch mechanism are in their closed positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a section upon a transverse plane indicated by the line 66, Figs. 1 and 3, and showing the parts to the left of said plane in position to close the circuit controlled by the switch;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating a different form circuit closing blade and terminals; and

Figs. ,8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary views illustrating particular features of construction of the blade carrying bar or yoke, and of the toggle mechanism, of my device.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 designates a suitable base which serves as a support for, and to which the various elements of my improved switch are secured, and 11 designates a casing within which thesaid elements are inclosed; the casing being secured to the base in the embodiment of my invention illustrated and the same being closed by a cover 12 shown as connected with the casing by hinges at 13,v whereby access may-be had to the interior of the casing and to the operating elements of my device inclosed therein; although the cover may be simply a removable cover not hinged to the casing, if desired. Secured to the base 10 are suitable brackets 14, and 15 designates an oscillating blade or'brush carrying member or support to which the circuit closing elements 16, 17 01 my device are secured and by which they are carried; the extremities of the said circuit closing elements being adapted to contact with terminals 18, 19, 20 and 21 whenthe circuit or circuits controlled by the switch are closed, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 6 and 7, and to be moved into positions away from said terminals, as shown in Fig. 2, when the circuit or circuits are broken, as is usual in switch or circuit closing or controlling devices. The bar or support 15 may carry a single blade or brush in the case of a single pole switch, or two blades 1n the case ota double pole switch of the type illustrated in the drawings; and a resilient laminated or brush type of circuit closing element may be used as shown in Figs. 1, 2 3 and 6, or one of the non-resilient or knife blade type as shown in Fig. 7 according to the exigencies of the case and the character of the circuit or circuits to be controlled. The said bar or support may obviously carry more than two circuit closing blades or brushes, if desired; this being a matter determined entirely by the number of circuits or branches to be controlled by the switch, the location of the gaps to be bridged by the closing elements relative to the circuit controlled considered in its entirety, and by the other features of the circuit or circuits to be controlled, as will be appreciated.

The oscillating bar 15 is ordinarlly made of insulating material, and the same 15 preferably made in two parts secured together as shown, the closing members being held in recesses formed in one or both the meeting surfaces of the two parts of the bar, whereby an easily made and a secure connection between the blades or brushes and the supporting bar is provided. The said bar is pivotally supported from the brackets 14 by means of and through arms 22 located one at either end thereof; and 23 designates a spring acting upon the blade carrying bar and tending to move the parts into their open position illustrated in Fig. 2 when the circuit is to be opened or broken, as will hereinafter appear, and to hold the parts in their open position when the action of said spring is unopposed. The arms 22 preferably comprise two members made from sheet metal and the ends of which are bent to form clips engaging the upper and lower faces ot' the blade supporting bar, the parts being secured together by suitable rivets or screws, as best shown in Fig. 8, although the bar and supporting arms may be otherwise constructed, if deemed desirable.

The reference numeral 24 designates an oscillating switch closing member having depending arms 25 at its ends whereby the same is pivotedly supported from the brackets 1 1, and having also a centrally located operating handle 26 operating in a slot 27 formed in the cover 12. This closing member is operatively connected with the bar 15 so as to move the same againstthe action of the spring 23 1 nd bring the closing elements 16, 17 into engagement with the terminals 18, 19, 20, 21 when the circuit is to be closed; motion being communicated from the switch closing'member to the blade carrying bar through plates 28 carried by the bar and having stops or lugs 29 adapted to be engaged by the depending arms 25 when the handle 26 is moved to the left, in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings.

The reference numerals 30, 31 designate toggle members pivotally connected together at 32, and the free ends of which are pivotally connected with the brush carrying bar 15 and with a fixed abutment through and by means of a-bracket 33 carried by the bar, and a second bracket 34 secured to the base of the device in the form of my invention illustrated; and the toggle mechanism thus provided is strai htened as the operating lever 26 is moved roin the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 toward the left and finally assumes the straight line position shown in Fig. 1, after which it acts as a securing member for holding the parts in the closed position shown in said figure. It will be appreciated, however, that the spring23 acts in opposition to the movement of the brush carrying'bar 15 from the open position shown in Fig. 2 toward the closed position shown in Fig. 1, and that the parts are not locked in their closed positions until the toggle members are in line with one another; from which it follows that if the person operating the switch neglects to move the handle 26 far enough to bring the parts into the final position which they are intended to assume when the switch is closed, the spring 23 will return the parts to their open position when the operating handle is released, so that the switch cannot be left in a partially closed condition. It will be understood that the central pivot 32 moves slightly beyond a line joining the pivots at the ends of the members 30, 31 as the mechanism moves into its locking position, as is usual in toggle mechanisms, the extent of such movement being limited by a stop 35; and a suitable spring 36 is commonly provided to act upon the toggle mechanism and insure. the movement thereof into the final locking position, as will be appreciated.

Assuming now that the parts have been moved into the position in which they are illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 6. and 7, in which position they are held by the toggle mechanism as above explained. the switch is operated to break the circuit or circuits controlled by it by means of a cam operatively connected with the closing member 24; which cam acts upon the toggle mechanism and forces the central pivotal connection 32 thereof past a straight line extending through the pivotal connections at the ends thereof, thus breakingor tripping the toggle and permittin the spring 23 to swing the brush or bla e carrying bar 15 about its pivotal connections with the brackets 14 and move the parts into the open position shown in Fig. 2.

The cam above referred to may have various forms, and may be operatively connected with the operating or closing member 24 in various ways. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, however, the cam is provided by forming a bent or offset portion 37 in a rod 38 which extends through openings in the brackets 14 and at the lower ends of the arms 22 which support the blade supporting bar 15, and also through openings at the lower ends of the arms 25 which support the closing member 24, thus forming the pivotal connection between the parts above referred to and securing them in operative relation with one another. The rod 38 also preferably forms a support for the opening spring 23, as best shown in Fig. 6; and the free end thereof is shown as connected with the switch closing member 24, so as to partake of the oscillatory movement thereof, througha clip 39 secured to one of the depending arms 25 at 40, and which clip is in engagement with an upwardly bent end portion 41 of the said rod; from which it follows that when the operating handle 26 is moved toward the right the rod 38 will be rotated through the clip 39 and upwardly bent portion 41, and that the offset portion 37 of the said rod will act against the toggle mechanism to break the toggle, thus releasing the blade carryin bar 15 and permitting the spring 23 to act t iereupon and move the parts into their open position; the opening movement being beyond the control of the operator after the blade carrying bar has been released, and extremely rapid because of the action of the said spring, as will be appreciated.

The closing or switch operating member 24 is preferably connected with the blade carrying bar 15 through a comparatively weak spring 42, one end of which is shown as connected with the depending arm 25 and the other with one of the lugs 29 and the purpose of which is to hold the depending arms 25 against the lugs 29 and keep the operating handle 26 in a fixed position when the switch is closed, as well as also when it is in its open condition; and a slotted link connection 43 is preferably provided between the other of the depending; arms 25 and the other lug 29, as best shown in Fig.

1, thecpurpose of which is to impart initial opening movement to the parts should the spring 23 fail at any time to do S0,, which is a feature of importance in switch blades of the knife type such as are shown in Fig. 7 wherein there -'is considerable friction between the ends of the blades and the terminals with which they contact.

The casing 11 in addition to providing space for the various elements hereinbefore referred to preferably contains renewable fuses44, 45, including in the branches 46, 47 of the circuit or circuits controlled by the switch, the fuses being held in suitable clips as shown and as is usual in such cases; and locking means is preferably provided for the cover of the casing, the purpose of which 1s to prevent the casing from being opened when the switch is closed, and to also prevent the switch from being closed when the casing is open. Said locking means is shown as comprlslng a hasp member 48 carried by the cover 12 and having a hole 49, and an inclined edge 50; a supporting member 51 carried by a support 52 located within the casing, the member 51 having a hole 53; and a swinging plate 54 having a rojection or pin 55 adapted to be engaged Ey the inclined edge 50 of the hasp 48 as the cover is closed, said plate being pivotally secured to the supporting member at 56, and having a hole 57 the location of the holes 49, 53 and 57 being such that they will be in line with one another when the cover has been moved into position to close the casing, as illus trated in the drawings. The reference numeral 58 designates a reciprocating bolt operating through a hole in the support 52 and located in line with the holes above referred to and as shown; and the said bolt is operatively connected with the blade carrying bar 15 in any way as through a link 59 plvotally connected with the bolt and with a bracket 60 carried by the said bar.

In view of the premises it will be appreciated that the act of closing the cover 12 will bring the holes 49, 53, and 56 into line with oneanother, and that the act of closing the switch will project the bolt 58 through the holes, thus locking the cover closed until such time as the bolt 58 is withdrawn by opening the switch. On the other hand when the cover is open, the circuit being necessarily broken at such time as will be appreciated, the swinging plate 54 will have swung upon its pivot 56 and into a position such that a solid part thereof will lie over the hole 53, thus preventing the switch from being closed when the cover is open; as any attempt to close the same at that time will move the end of the bolt 58 against an imperforate part of the plate 54, thus preventing further movement of the parts in a direction to close the switch.

Having thus described and explained my invention, I claim and desire to. secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a switch of the class described, a movable support; a circuit closing element" carried thereby; terminals with which said circuit closing element is adapted to engage; a spring operatively connected with said support and tending to move the same in a direction to open the circuit controlled by the switch; a movable switch closing member; toggle mechanism adapted to hold the switch in a closed condition; means independent of the said toggle mechanism through which said support may be moved by said switch closing member to close the circuit controlled by the switch; and means operatively connectedwith said switch closing member for breaking said toggle mechanism to release the switch and permit said spring to open the same.

2. In a switchof the class described, an oscillating support; a circuit closing element carried thereby; terminals with which said circuit closing element is adapted to engage; a spring acting uponsaid support and tending to move the same in a direction to open the circuit controlled by the switch; an oscillating switch clos ng member directly connected with said support and movable in one direction to close the circuit controlled by the switch; toggle mechanism connected with said support and adapted to hold the same in a position to keep the circuit controlled by the switch closed; and means operated by said switch closing member as the same is moved in a reverse direction for operating said toggle mechanism to release said support and permit said spring to open the switch.

3. In a switch of the class described, an oscillating support; a circuit closing element carried thereby; terminals with which said circuit closing element is adapted to engage; a spring acting upon said support and tending to move the same in a direction to open the circuit controlled by the switch; an oscillating switch closing member directly connected with said support and movable in one direction to close the circuit controlled by the switch; toggle mechanism connected with said support and adapted only to hold the same in a position to keep the circuit controlled b the switch closed and to permit the switch to be opened; and means operated by said switch closing member as the same is moved in a reverse direction for operating said toggle mechanism to release said support and permit said spring to open the switch.

4. In a switch of the class described, a pivotally supported oscillating support; a

.pivotally supported oscillating switch closing member; a rod forming a pivot about which said elements oscillate and whereby they are properly supported relative to one another; a spring acting upon said support and tending to move the same in a direction to open the circuit controlled by the switch; toggle mechanism connected w th said support and adapted to hold the same in a position to keep the circuit controlled bythe switch closed; means whereby movement imparted to said switch closing member in one direction will be transmitted to said support to close the circuit controlled by the switch; means whereby movement imparted to said switch closing member in a reverse direction will be transmitted through said rod to said toggle mechanism to operate the same and release said support so that said spring may move the same; a circuit closing element carried by said support; and terminals with which said circuit closing element is adapted to engage.

5. In a switch of the class described, a pivotally supported oscillating support; a pivotally supported oscillating switch closing member; a rod connected with said closing member so as to move therewith, and which rod forms a pivot about which said elements oscillate and serves to support them in proper relation with one another; a spring acting upon said support and tending to move the same in a direction to open the circuit controlled by the switch; toggle mechanism connected with said support and adapted to hold the same in a position to keep the circuit controlled by the switch closed; means whereby movement imparted to said switch closing member in one direction will be transmitted to said support to close the circuit controlled by the switch; a cam carried by said rod and adapted to engage said toggle mechanism as said switch closing member is moved in a reverse direction to thereby release said support and permit said spring to move the same; a circuit closing element carried by said support; and

element is adapted to engage.

6. In a switch of the class described, an oscillating support having an arm at each ofits ends; an oscillating switch closing member having an arm at each of its ends; two supporting brackets whereby said elements are supported in proper position relative to one another; a rod connected with said closing member so as to move therewith and which rod extends through holes provided in said brackets and arms, to thereby provide a pivotal connection between said parts; a spring operatively connected with said support and tending to move the same in a direction to open the circuit controlled by the switch; toggle mechanism connected with said support and adapted to hold the same in a position to keep the circuit controlled by the switch closed; a stop or lug through which movement imparted to said switch closing member in one direction will be transmitted to said support to close the circuit controlled by the switch; a cam carried by said rod and adapted to engage said toggle mechanism as said switch closing member is moved in a reverse direction to my hand in the city, county and State of thereby release said support and permit said New York, this 25th day of April, 1917. spring to move the same; a circuit closing element carried by said support; and ter- JOHN D. CLAY. 5 ininals with which said circuit closing ele- In presence 0fment is adapted to enga e. ISABEL R. RICHARDS,

In Witness whereof have hereunto set ZITA M. GRAHAM. 

